Quilting frame



F@ M, l. y EfE. PIKE y l 2,030,603

QUILTING FRAME Filed Deo. 11,- 1954 Patented Feb. l1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to quilting frames, and has particular reference to an improved adjustable frame adapted to support the quilting materials and nished quilt during the stitching or quilting operation.

It is an object of my invention toV provide a quilting frame having a series of spaced, longitudinally-extending rollers, certain of which are adapted to support the materials from which a quilt is to be made and one of which is' adapted to receive and support the finished quilt, and to associate with such rollers, means' for feeding and winding theI materials and for retaining an appreciable length of the materials in a taut', stretched condition between the rollers, whereby the exposed materials may be readily stitched together to form the finished quilt.

It is an object of my invention to provide a quilting frame having a series of material-feeding and quilt-receiving rollers rotatably mounted in suitable end frames, and to so mount the roller-supporting end frames that said frames and the rollers maybe readily adjusted to balance the rollers as the quilting materials are initially placed on the feed rollers, and as the materials are fed from the feed rollers and accumulate upon the receiving roller, this adjustment or balancing beingy desirable in order to maintain the stretched materials' in a horizontal position during the stitching or quilting operation..

It is an object of: my invention to provide a quilting frame havingV a series of spaced' material-feeding and quilt-receivingY rollers,. and to suspend these rollers from an overhead support whereby the materials contained between the feed and receiving rollers may be readily moved transversely and longitudinally' before the operator, in the case of hand sewing, or transversely and longitudinally beneath' the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine, in the case of machine sewing, suitable means being provided for adjusting' the rollers vertically with respect to theoperator or sewing mechanism of a sewing machine.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a support for the rollers and materials which is shaped tol permit the stitching to be extended to the extreme' marginal edges of the materials without interference between the support and stitching mechanism of the sewing machine, and which will` permit the rollersand. materials to be moved endwise from beneath the stitching mechanism without contact between the. support and stitching mechanism.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide at quilting frame which is collapsible, and which may be folded to form a relatively compact. device for shipping and/orstoring purposes', and to so constructthe' quilting frame. that it is readily adiustable, cheap and. easy to` manufacture,

strong and durable and highly efficient in the purposes for which designed.

In the' accompanying drawing wherein IA have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved 5 quilting frame, showing the same suspended fromI a sui-table overhead supporti by means' of which thequilting materials may be passed transversely and longitudinally beneath the stitching mecha-10 nism of asewing machine'.

Fig. 2 a sectional view onI the line 2-2` of' Fig. I,

Fig: 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of one of the' roller supporting side frames 15 and the arcuate supporting arm for suspending said side frame from its overhead support,

Fig. 4fis` anenlarged` fragmentary pla-n view of onex end ofthe material-feeding and quilt sup-V porting rollers and the associated side frame, 20 thisview being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on theline*u .n

Referring tov the drawing, wherein like refer- 25 ence characters. have been employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral Il designates a suitable overhead wire, cable or rod extending betweenY the spaced supports 2L and 3`- which may be the opposite walls so of a room or shop; wire, cablev or rod being attached to said? supports by meansV of adjust-` able brackets- 4', whereby the tension upon the wire, cable or rod may b'e regulated. The wire, cable or rod f constitutes the overhead track or 35 trolley by means of which the quilting frame is supported.

`My quilting frame comprises a main horizontal beam 5 of metal, wood or other suitable material, slightly greater length than the overall width 40* of the'quilt to blemad'e on the quilting frame, this beam and the parts. supported therefrom being suspended from the overhead wire, cable or rod I liymeansr of'support-ingarms 6 and "l, the lower ends of arepivotfally connected to thebeam 45' 5 `near thel opposite ends. thereof; These supporting arms l and T may bool metal, wood' or other suitable material and are pivotally attached to the. main horizontal beam 5` by means of angled plates 8 and 9 riveted or otherwise secured to 50 the lower ends of the supporting arms l?` and 1 and to beam! 5i Each supporting arm ll and 'l carriesl at its upperl end a grooved trolley wheel Ill journalled on a bolt. H `which may be inserted any one of a series of" apertures I2 pro- 55V vided near the upper end of each arm. The angular' position of the supporting arms 6 and: l" with respect to the main horizontal beam' '.ideterminesth'e' vertical position of the quilting frame with respect to thel supporting wire, cable or rod' 60 I, and to maintain the desired angular adjustment of the arms and, hence, the relative distance between the beam 5 and wire, cable or rod I, I provide arms I3 and HI having their lower ends pivotally connected to the beam 5 and their upper ends'passing through clamps I5 attached to the arms I5 and 1 near the upper ends thereof, these clamps being forced into frictional contacti with the arms I3 and I4 by means of clamping bolts It.V For shipping and storing purposes, the' arms to the rear face ofthe beam 5, it being noted that the arcuate arms I1 are disposed transversely of the beam 5. 'Ihe lower end of each arm I1 is pivotally connected to the mid portion of a side frame I9 whose intermediate portion is substantially straight and whose end portions are curved upwardly as best shown in Figs.` 3 and 5. In order to permit relative angular adjustment between the arms I1 and the side frame members laf provide a series of apertures 20 throughout the Vlower portion of each arm I1 and associate with each frame member YI9 a hook 2I, the upper free end of which is adapted to enter one of the series of apertures 2 to retain the desired angular relation between the arms I1 and side frame members I9. Extending between the side frame members I9 are two material-feeding rollers 22V and 23 and a quilt-receiving roller 24, each having end trunnions journalled in spacedeapertures in the opposed side frame members I9. The end or ends of each of the rollers 22, 23 and 24 are provided with ratchets 25, 26 and 21 respectively, having pivoted locking dogs or pawls 28, 23 and 3i? which `coact with the respective ratchets to lock the rollers against rotation. In the accompanying drawing, I have shown a portion of the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine 3I in order to illustrate and describe the use of my improved quilting frame when operated to permit the machine stitching or sewing of a quilt.Y

Having thus described the construction Vof my improved quilting frame, I will now refer to the` use of such frame when utilized in the manufacture of a quilt.A Assuming that the overhead wire, cable or rod Inhas been suspendedY between the opposed supports 2 and 3 and stretched tothe desired degree of tautness by means of the adjustable brackets 4, the supporting arms B and 1 of the quilting frame are moved upwardly about the clamping bolts I5 tightened, whereby the frictional engagement between the clamps I5 and arms I3 and I4'maintains the desired angular adjustmentV between the beam 5 andthe supporting arms 6 and 1. The bolts II carrying'the grooved trolley wheels I0 are then inserted inV corresponding apertures I2 at the'upper ends of the supporting arms 6 and 'I and the entire quilting frame is lifted to a position where the trolley wheels I0 will overlie and ride upon the wire, cable or rod. Y

VThe rollers 22 and 23 areV then removed from the side frame members I 9 by releasing the pivotlength of the roller 22 ed locking dogs 28 and 29 from engagement with the ratchets 25 and 26 and springing the said frame members outwardly to disengage the roller trunnions from the apertures in the side frame members. IThe marginal edge of a sheet of suitable base fabric, usually of plain color, is tacked oriotherwise secured at spaced points along the A sheet of filling material, usually cotton batting or the like, is superimposed upon the base fabric sheet and the fabric and lling materials are carefully and tightly rolled upon the roller 22. The marginal edge of a length of suitable top fabric, usually ornamental or decorative in design, is tacked or otherwise secured at spaced points along the length of the roller 23 and this-top fabric is thenecarefully and tightly rolled upon the "roller *23.V The rollers 22 and 23 are then. placed between the side frame n member I9 with Vthe base fabric and filling material passing beneath the roller 23. lIfhe outer free edges of the base fabric, filling material, and

.are thus locked against further rotation, it being understood that the locking dogs and ratchets maintain the superimposed materials in a tight, stretched condition.

It will be noted that when the quilting materials are initially mounted on the rollers preparatoryk tothe stitching or quilting operation, the bulk of weight is at the rear of the quilting frame. Hence it will be necessary, in order to obtain the desired horizontal positioning of the superimposed' fabric extending between the roller 23 and the quilt-receiving roller 24, to remove the hook members 2I at opposite sides of the frame from engagement with the apertures 26 and to swing-the rear ends of the side frames I9 upwardlyV about their pivotal connection with the lower ends of the arcuate arms I1 until'the materials between the rollers 23 and 24 assume the desired horizontal position and the frame is properly balanced, whereupon the hooks 2I are-again engaged Within appropriate apertures 20 in the arms I1 to maintain this position until further adjustment becomes necessary.

Assuming that the height of the beam 5 and the parts suspended therefrom has been properly adjusted with respect to the platform or table underlying the stitching mechanism of the sewing machine 3 I, the entire quilting frame is moved endwise beneath the stitching mechanism, the Y arcuate shape of the arms I1 permitting this movement and preventingcontact between the said arms and stitching mechanism. The operator'then moves the entire frame back and forthV beneath the stitching mechanism to effect the stitching or quilting ci the materials, this stitching or quilting usually extending in spaced, parallel lines, transversely of the materials, although the free suspension of the Ymaterials and the ability of my frame to be moved from side to side and from front to rear permits the material to be stitched or quilted inV designs otherV than the straight transverse stitching. As soon as the length of materials extending between the rollersV 23 and 24 has been stitched or quilted, the operator releases the locking dogs or pawls 28, 29 and 30 from their respective ratchets and rolls up the stitched materials onto the roller 24, this rolling operation unwnding another length of base, lling and top materials from the rollers 22 and 23 and placing the same in proper stretched condition and position between the rollers 23 and 24. After the stitching or quilting has progressed to a point where the bulk of weight is located at the front end of the frame, due to the transfer of the materials from the rollers 22 and 23 to the quilt-receiving roller 24, the length of materials extending between the rollers 23 and 24 no longer maintains the desired horizontal position, i. e., the frame becomes unbalanced, and it be'- comes necessary to elevate the forward ends of the side frame members I9, which can be readily accomplished by disengaging the hooks 2| from the apertures 20, swinging the forward end of the frame upwardly about the pivotal connections with the lower ends of the arcuate arms I1, and replacing the hooks 2| in appropriate apertures in the arms l1. 'I'he stitching or quilting operation continues until the length of materials wound upon the rollers 22 and 23 becomes exhausted, whereupon the tacks are removed from the inner ends of the materials on the rollers 22 and 23 and the entire lengths of materials are Wound upon the roller 24. The roller 24 is then removed from between the side frames I9 and the stitched or quilted materials are unwound from the roller 24, cut into suitable lengths, and passed to a suitable stitching machine where an edge binding is sewed over the marginal edges of the laminated sheet to form a iinished quilt.

While I have elected to illustrate and describe my improved quilting frame used in connection with a sewing machine, it is to be understood that the frame is not limited to machine sewing but is highly eiiicient when used in connection with hand sewing, the entire frame and the materials carried thereon being readily movable back and forth and from front to rear of the operator. It is to be further understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and construction of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scopeA of the subjoined claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam, spaced material-feeding and quiltreceiving rollers suspended from said beam, a horizontal track above said beam, arms pivotally attached at their lower ends to said beam and angularly adjustable with respect thereto, means at the upper ends of said arms for engaging the horizontal track, and means for retaining said arms in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to the beam to determine the vertical distance between the horizontal track and said beam.

2. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam, spaced material-feeding and quiltreceiving rollers suspended from said beam, a horizontal track above said beam, a supporting arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said beam and angularly adjustable with respect thereto, a trolley wheel at the upper end of said supporting arm for engaging the horizontal track, a second arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said beam with its free upper end crossing said supporting arm, and means engaging the supporting arm and said second arm to retain said supporting arm in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said beam to determine the vertical distance between the horizontal track and said beam.

3. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam; spaced material-feeding and quilt-receiving rollers suspended from said beam; a horizontal track above said beam; a supporting arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said beam andangularlyadjustable withrespectthereto; meansat the upper endof said supporting arm l for engaging the horizontal track; an arm pivotally attached at its lower end to said beam adjacent the lower end of the supporting arm with the free upper ends of the and an adjustable clamp carried by one of the arms and engaging the other arm to retain the supporting arm in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said beam to determine the vertical distance between the horizontal track and said beam.

4. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam; spaced material-feeding and quiltreceiving rollers suspended from said beam; a horizontal track above said beam; a pair of supporting arms pivotally attached at their lower ends to said beam and angularly adjustable with respect thereto; means at the upper ends of said supporting arms for engaging the horizontal track; a second pair of arms each pivotally attached at its lower end to said beam adjacent the lower end of each of the first mentioned arms with the free upper ends of the adjacent supporting and second-mentioned arms crossing; and an adjustable clamp carried by each of the supporting arms and frictionally engaging the adjacent second-mentioned arm to retain each supporting arm in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said beam to determine the vertical distance between the horizontal track and said beam.

5. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam, spaced material-feeding and quiltreceiving rollers suspended from said beam, a horizontal track above said beam, supporting arms pivotally attached at their lower ends to said beam and angularly adjustable with respect thereto, means at the upper ends of said supporting arms for engaging the horizontal track, arms pivotally attached at their lower ends to said beam adjacent the lower ends of each of the supporting arms with their free upper ends crossing said supporting arms, and means engaging the supporting and second mentioned arms to retain said supporting arms in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said beam to determine the vertical distance between the horizontal track and said beam, the supporting and second mentioned arms being movable to assume positions parallel to said beam when the frame is removed from the horizontal track.

6. A quilting apparatus comprising a main horizontal beam; a horizontal supporting track above said beam; means for suspending said beam from said horizontal track; spaced arms depending from said beam and provided with a plurality of spaced apertures; side frame members pivotally attached to said arms; spaced material-feeding and quilt-receiving rollers journalled between said side frame members; and hooks carried by said side frame members, the free ends of said hooks being adapted to enter any of the spaced apertures in the arms to secure said side frame members in any one of a plurality of angular positions with respect to said arms.

EARLE E. PIKE.

two arms crossing; i 

